Vietnam Highlights: Vietnam Holiday 20 Days - SIC 20 Days 19 Nights

06.30 – 6.45: Start your day with Tai Chi exercises or a photo hunt.

07.00: Have breakfast on board while the boat starts cruising to the Natural Preservation Zone.

08.45: Take kayaking in 30 - 45 minutes.

09.30: We board the cruise again. Take time to refresh and relax before checking out. Bags can be left in luggage store.

Continue cruising throughout the Bay, passing Ba Hang Fishing Village, Stone Dog Islet, and so on…

Join with our cooking class, to learn how to make our specifically (Spring rolls) before an early lunch is served.

11.30 – 12.00: Disembark at the harbor in Tuan Chau Island. Transfer by minibus or private car to return Hanoi.

16.30 -17.00: Arrival in your hotel, free at leisure. Until the time when our guide pick you up at your hotel for railway station to take an overnight train to Sapa at 20.30

Includes: Cabin on overnight train; transport; English speaking guide; meals: breakfast and lunch; all entrance fees

06.00: Our tourguide will pick up at the Sapa Train Station when you arrive and transfer by shuttle bus to the hotel in Sapa. Have a breakfast at hotel.

09.00: Our tour guide will pick you up at your hotel, take a short drive to Y Linh Ho then trek through the rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Stream to the Black Hmong Village of Lao Chai to see the spectacular landscape of Hoang Lien Son Mountain. You approach Ta Van Village where Dzay Ethnic People inhabits in late afternoon. (Trekking distance is about 9 kms and it lasts for 3.5 hours)

Check in homestay; get to know the family of Dzay People. Spend time to enjoy the mountain life on Sunset. You may attend cooking local dishes with the family and enjoy dinner in peace.

In the evening, you can join the local bar nearby with music and socialize with other tourists then overnight at homestay in Ta Van Village.

Includes: Homestay; transport; English speaking guide; meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner; all entrance fees

09.00: After a simple breakfast at local family, we say goodbye to the minority owner. Then, take a short walk down the South- West of Sapa (around 4 km) to visit Giang Ta Chai Village (Red Dzao minority people). Have a soft break at rattan bridge –the oldest rattan bridge in Sapa. Visit some house and continue to go to Su Pan Village. In here, you can learn about their way of life and see traditional clothing being made, hemp being dyed and women weaving. Relax at the stunning waterfall and the vestige of a hydroelectric power station that was constructed by the French during the colonial time in Vietnam. Have lunch in the village

After lunch, our minivan will transfer you back Lao Cai Bus Station, to take other public coach to Ha Giang city (in Ha Giang province)

Arrival in Ha Giang, we come to local hotel there for check in. Free at leisure

Includes: Hotel; transport;  meals: breakfast

7.30: After breakfast, we drive uphill to Quan Ba – the heaven gate in Tam Son, walk around Quan Ba, visit the Twins Hill and have lunch.

We keep going to uphill to see the Chinese style construction in Vuong King’s Palace who leaded about 70,000 of the H’Mong ethnic people in this area.

You arrive in Dong Van, check in and have dinner.

Includes: Hotel; transport; English speaking guide; meals: breakfast and lunch; all entrance fees

7.30: After breakfast, you take about 2 hours driving to get to Lung Cu Flag Pole, then visit Ma Pi Leng pass which is the most beautiful view in Vietnam from mountains. Between the cliffs, you can see an unique river – Nho Que and take a boat trip. In late afternoon, you can walk around to see the market in Meo Vac town and then check in at the guesthouse.

7.30: After breakfast, we take you to visit Lung Khuy cave with thousands of stalagmites and stalactites, have lunch then keep driving back to Ha Giang City.

14.30: Back to the hotel in Ha Giang to refresh and be ready for bus back to Hanoi

22.00: Our bus takes you back to your hotel/stay in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi

Includes: Hotel; transport; English speaking guide; meals: breakfast and lunch; all entrance fees

07.45 – 08.30: Tour guide picks you up at suggested places around Hanoi Old Quater. Depart for Ninh Binh province (90km south of Hanoi). Have a break 20 minutes en-route to free your legs. Arrival you’ll start  get a quick break at the restaurant before preparing your bicycle for a bike ride to Hang Mua. Then, you’ll climb 486 steps at Hang Mua for panoramic views and photo opportunities before biking back to the restaurant for lunch.

13:30: We take the sampan boats (2 people share a boat) in Tam Coc dock to drift down the river among the villages, mountains and lush rice fields. Passing through 3 caves "Hang Ca - First cave, Hang Hai -Second cave, Hang Ba - Third cave" to get a strange feeling. Before the transfer back Hanoi we visit the temples of King Dinh and King Le.

18.30 – 19.00: In the evening, Our staff will transfer you to train station for getting an overnight train to Quang Binh Province 

Includes: Cabin on overnight train; transport; English speaking guide; meals: breakfast; all entrance fees

On arrival at Hue station, our driver will pick you up to transfer you to the hotel.

08.00 – 08.30: Our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in the city center to start the tour.

08.45: Firstly, visit Thanh Toan Bridge – a rare tiled roof bridge in Vietnam. This wooden arched bridge has been built for the local villagers who are into farming and fishing. It connects the local market and the village houses.

09.30: Visit Minh Mang Tomb which is considered as the most majestic of all of the Royal Tombs. The impressive architecture that complements with the nature gives you a good impression of the Emperor who lives within the walls of the 18 hectares tomb.

10.30: Visit Khai Dinh Tomb - the smallest but the most expensive tomb of all. Every corners of the tomb is very detailed which reflects how luxurious the emperor was. It is a blend of Western and Eastern architecture.

12.00: Have lunch a local restaurant with Vietnamese cuisine.

13.15: Visit Hue Imperial Citadel - home of Vietnam's last royal dynasty - Nguyen Dynasty. This is the highlight of the tour. You will learn the rise, struggles and fall of the Nguyen Dynasty and how it affected the whole country.

15.30: Visit Thien Mu Pagoda (Heaven Fairy Lady Pagoda) - the oldest pagoda in Hue city.

16.00: Get on a dragon boat to cruise on Huong River (Perfume river) and back to the city.

16.30: Drop you off at your hotel in Hue city. Farewell and see you again.

Includes: Hotel; transport; English speaking guide; meals: breakfast and lunch; all entrance fees

In the morning: After breakfast, transfer to bus for Hoi An Ancient Town

Arrival in Hoi An at noon time, check in & free at leisure

In the afternoon: take a visit of Hoi An Ancient Town

You will be collected at your hotel lobby at 13.30. Start taking a tour around city: Walk to the ancient city, visit the Kwan Temple, Phuc Kien Chinese Assembly Hall, Tan Ky Ancient House, Japanese Cover Bridge and Historic & Cultural museum in Hoi An. Then you have a traditional music performance & visit Hoi An’s handicraft workshop before coming back to the hotel. Tour ends at your hotel in Hoi An at round 17.30 or 18.00. Come back to hotel for relaxing and overnight

Includes: Hotel; transport; English speaking guide; meals: breakfast and dinner; all entrance fees

Welcome you at the hotel’s lobby. Riding bicycle to Hoi An’s colorful central market. Here you will have opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. So make sure your camera is handy. Bike to Tra Que Vegetable Village. Welcome drink for rest and walk through the vegetable gardens where local farmers work on their fields, using the traditional methods of hundreds of years ago, no electrical machinery here. Go to the restaurant & work together with the chef. Learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food. After the lesson, enjoy what you have cooked.

Recipes:

• Tra Que vegetable salad Tam Huu dish
• Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Pancake)
• Hoi An spring rolls
• Activities: Cooking Vietnamese food

In the afternoon, transfer to Danang train station for soft sleeping train to Nha Trang. Arrival in Nha Trang, transfer to hotel for check

Includes: Hotel; transport; English speaking guide; meals: breakfast and lunch; all entrance fees, train ticket Da Nang - Nha Trang 

8:30: Tour guide will pick you up from you hotel to take a tour around the city, including:

09.00: Visit Hon Chong Promontory

Bus and guide will pick you up at your hotel for the journey to discover Nha Trang with the first place – Hon Chong resort. You will be amazed with the beauty of massive rocks with many shapes and stacked each other. Hon Chong is a big rock that has the traces of the giant hand in a legend and Hon Vo is another rock looks like a woman cradling her child.

9:30: Po Nagar Towers

The special structure was built between the 7th and the 12th century by Cham (the prosperous time of Cham). The particular structures and bricks helped towers exist over 1000 years. Many scientists today have yet deciphered its mystery.

10:30: Nha Trang Mountain Church (Nha Trang Cathedral or Stone Church).

This is a unique architecture that tourists shouldn’t miss. Looked from the outside, The church has gray color with the architecture same to palaces and castles in ancient Roman times. Beside Gothic architecture with French style, the mountain church also owns a precious brass bell manufactured and supplied by a famous bell brand, French Carillon Bourdon.

11:10: Long Son Pagoda

Long Son Pagoda, also known under other names “ Chua  Phat Trang” or “ Long Son Co Tu”, the biggest church in Nha Trang city. It was built in 1886 and repaired many times. Long Son owns unique statues located in Trai Thuy hill such as bronze Buddha statue in the main hall with 1.6 metres high and  700kg weight; nirvana  Buddha statues with 17 metres long and the statue of Buddha Shrine seating sermon with 31 metres high.

12:00: Lunch and rest at a local restaurant.

13:30: Visit Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography

Considered as the biggest storage and marine research in Southeast Asia, Institute of Oceanography Nha Trang currently stores over 20,000 specimens of more than 4,000 marine species in the South China Sea. Here, visitors can see many species of marine animals raised in aquarium such as sharks, lionfish, seals, sea turtles, demon fishes, corals and sea anemones.

14:30: Nha Trang Bao Dai Villa (Cau Da villa)

Cau Da villa with French ancient architecture was the place  for the emperor Bao Dai and Queen Nam Phuong to rest, open parties, fish and watching sea. The houses are designed in European style harmony with the surrounding natural landscape. Here, visitors can see whole Nha Trang city in the North or the vast peaceful ocean in the East.

15:20: XQ Historical Village

Built with unique architecture of ancient Hue and impressive art galleries, XQ historical village is the crystallization of Vietnam embroider art. Visitors can enjoy unique embroidered paintings, observe the skillful artisans taking each needle on the silk and learn the traditional embroidered culture.

16:10: Tram Huong Tower (Agarwood Tower) – symbol of Nha Trang City

The name of Tram Huong tower is derived from a rare commodity with high economic value in Nha Trang called agarwood. Located on the beach, Tram Huong tower consists of 3 floors with vivid sculpture icons: the wave of the sea, sails, petals and a stylized core.

17:00: Ends of the tour

Includes: Hotel; transport; English speaking guide; meals: breakfast and lunch; all entrance fees

7.30 – 11.30: Have breakfast at hotel and free times to discover Nha Trang beach city by yourself.

11.30: Check out and clear all the bills. Then, our shuttle bus will take you to Nha Trang bus station, to take other public coach to Da Lat City (in Lam Dong province)

Arrival in Da Lat, we come to local hotel there for check in. Free at leisure

Includes: Hotel; transport;  meals: breakfast

08.00 - 8.30: Our tour guide and bus will pick you up at hotel. we will leave for a tour of Dalat and the surrounding areas.

We will stop on Robin - Hill’s Peak to look over the landscape, then take a cable car through pine forests and vegetable farms to Truc Lam Pagoda and Tuyen Lam Lake.

Next destination is back up to the city center where we will visit Bao Dai’s Summer Palace and Hang Nga Crazy House, a brightly painted concrete house which winds itself around trees, mimicking their shapes. It functions as a guest house.

After visiting crazy house we keep going to visit Linh Phuoc Pagoda and the old railway station which is well known in Indochina by it's beautiful architecture.

Guide and driver take you back to Dalat Flower Gardens and Dalat University. The university campus sits on a hilly area of 40 hectares with variety of styled building hidden throughout pine trees.

Inclusion: Hotel; transport; English speaking guide; meals: breakfast and lunch; all entrance fees

7.30 – 11.30: Have breakfast at hotel and free times to discover Dalat city by yourself.

11.30: Check out and clear all the bills. Then, our shuttle bus will take you to Dalat bus station, to take other public coach to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Arrival in HCMC, we come to local hotel there for check in. Free at leisure

Includes: Hotel; transport;  meals: breakfast

08.30 - 09.00: We start to visit 3 most interesting places in Ho Chi Minh City below:

War Crime Museum is the first place we will travel today; well-known for the story of war from the Vietnamese aspect. Exhibits have photographs, machinery, and weapons that reflect the harsh realities of war. 

Thien Hau - Taoist Temple is the second place we visit; Vietnamese language called "Chua Ba Thien Hau". This magnificently decorated temple is determined to Thien Hau, the Goddess of the Sea and patron of sailors. She is said to peregrinate over the oceans on a mat and ride the clouds to wherever she wants. If you visit temple on Lunar New Year, you will be witnessed a large mutil - ethinic crowd , lion dances...

The last place is China Town - called "Cho Lon" which was built in the late 18th century, this intricate section of Ho Chi Minh City bustles with restaurants, temples, exotic stores, and markets and Binh Tay Market. This is the principal marketplace in China Town, where an excellent deal of wholesale trading develops. Explore the bustle of this indispensable part from the daily business in the city. And in Vietnamese market, you may bargain for discount  when you want to buy some souvenir  items....

Have lunch in a local restaurant.

13.00: Afternoon tour is Cu Chi Tunnels 

After lunch, we will leave Tay Ninh and travel to Cu Chi Tunnels. Once in Vietnam, you must visit this spot. This is where guerilla warfare optimized and exemplified. You’ll learn the clever design of the tunnels and the strategic use of trap doors. Even with B-52 bombers dropping 30-ton loads of explosive, turning the jungle into a pockmarked moonscape, 30 thousand American troops failed to conquered the area! You’ll have a chance to crawl around a portion of the 121 km long, multiple-layered tunnel. You’ll learn how thousands of guerillas managed to stay underground many days at a time, also their great technique to conceal smoke from their cooking. There’re a lot more to enjoy, even a chance to fire real AK bullets…

Arriving Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City at 18.00 - 19.00. 

Includes: Hotel; transport; English speaking guide; meals: breakfast and lunch; all entrance fees

7.30 - 8.00: Our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in the city center to start the tour.

Depart from Saigon and head to Cai Be. Upon arrival, board aboat to visit Cai Be floating market and discover local life.

Visit a small family business to see how coconut candy and pop-rice are made.

Take a short row on a local sampan, enjoy fresh seasonal fruits and beautiful lunch in the heart of the garden.

Cruising to Vinh Long and visit a local pottery kilns factory.

Proceed to Can Tho. Have dinner on your own then spend the night in Can Tho.

Includes: Hotel; transport; English speaking guide; meals: breakfast and lunch; all entrance fees

Check out early in the morning then cruising along the Mekong River to Cai Rang Floating Market. This is the largest of its type in the whole Mekong Delta. 

Heading up a quiet canal for a short bike ride along countryside paths to enjoy the peaceful scenes of paddy filed, the monkey bridges or walk through the farms and houses of a nearby village to see fragrant tropical fruit orchards and pause for a cup of tea with friendly locals.

Before having lunch, drive to visit a Khmer Pagoda.

Then head back to Saigon. Drop off at your hotel at about 17.00.

Includes: Hotel; transport; English speaking guide; meals: breakfast and lunch; all entrance fees

7.30 – 11.30: Have breakfast at hotel and free times to discover Saigon city by yourself.

11.30: Check out and clear all the bills. Then, our driver (no guide) will come to pick you up at your hotel for the airport. Check in on board for your flight back home. We say good bye and wish to see you again in Vietnam

Includes: Hotel; transport (no guide); meals: breakfast